japanese
107-year-old Japanese Tea Garden Pagoda unveiled in San Francisco after 2-year, $1.1 million restoration
- The Japanese Tea Garden Pagoda, which was constructed for the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915, was renovated and unveiled on Wednesday in San Francisco.
- The renovation reportedly cost $1.1 million and took the Recreation and Park Department’s carpentry staff almost two years to complete.
- The structure features five floors and stands 52 feet tall.
- Although the pagoda’s renovation is complete, the area around its foundation will obtain a new landscape.
- This phase of the project will begin next year along with the reconstruction of the landscape architect Makoto Hagiwara’s bridge, which serves as the pagoda’s main road.
The Japanese Tea Garden Pagoda, which was constructed for the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915, was unveiled in San Francisco on Wednesday after two years of restoration.
At the end of the Panama-Pacific Exposition, which celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal and a milestone in San Francisco history, the indoor pagoda was moved into the Japanese Tea Garden in 1943 by park superintendent John T. McLaren.
Japanese streamer turns Southeast Asian curse words directed at her on Twitch into EDM bop
- Japanese Twitch streamer and Dota 2 player Xiinya has gone viral for taking the toxic comments she receives online and turning them into an electronic dance music (EDM) bop.
- Xiinya lists out the vulgarities she hears while going live on the Southeast Asian server in the two-minute song “SEA SERVER.”
- Reddit user MasterNyooot translated the words from different Southeast Asian dialects, including Hokkien and Tagalog.
- Social media users have called the new song “the official SEA Gamers National Anthem.”
- “SEA SERVER” is now available on Spotify.
Japanese Twitch streamer and “Dota 2” player Xiinya has gone viral for taking the toxic comments she receives online and turning them into an electronic dance music (EDM) bop.
In the two-minute song titled “SEA SERVER,” which Xiinya debuted on her Facebook page on Sept. 23, the streamer lists out the vulgarities she hears while going live on the Southeast Asian server.
Singaporeans disagree with Japanese TikToker who claims ‘chope-ing’ is unique to Japan
- A viral video posted by Japanese TikToker Matcha Samurai was flooded with comments from several Singaporeans who disagreed that “chope-ing,” the act of claiming a table in a food court by placing items on it, is unique to Japan.
- The clip, which was posted on Monday, has already garnered over 365,000 views, 42,000 likes and 1,200 comments.
- “Chope, same thing here in sg [Singapore],” one user commented.
- “We also do this in Singapore as well. Even a tissue packet counts,” another user wrote.
- TikTok users from other places such as South Korea and Taiwan claimed in the video’s comment section that they also practice “chope-ing.”
A viral video posted by a Japanese TikToker was flooded with comments from several Singaporeans who disagreed that “chope-ing,” the act of claiming a table in a food court by placing items on it, is unique to Japan.
Matcha Samurai, 24, posted a TikTok video on Monday to highlight the different objects that Japanese people use to claim or “reserve” tables in food courts, such as towels, shopping bags and cell phones.
Kang Daniel releases debut Japanese single ‘TPIR’ featuring Japanese guitarist Miyavi
- K-pop soloist Kang Daniel made his Japanese debut on Wednesday with the release of the single “TPIR” featuring Japanese guitarist Miyavi.
- “TPIR” is a pre-release for the KONNECT Entertainment artist’s upcoming Japanese EP “Joy Ride,” which is his first project since signing with Warner Music Japan in June.
- The EP will include the Japanese title track “Joy Ride” as well as “Loser,” a remix and collaboration with Japanese rapper Chanmina, and Japanese-language versions of four songs from his solo debut studio album “The Story.”
- Last month, Kang released the single “Move Like This” in collaboration with Yujin of girl group IVE and Olympic ice skater Kim Yuna.
K-pop soloist Kang Daniel released his first Japanese single “TPIR,” which features Japanese guitarist Miyavi, on Wednesday.
The single is his first project since signing with Warner Music Japan in June. It is a primer for his Japanese EP “Joy Ride,” which will be released on Oct. 5
Issey Miyake, trailblazing Japanese designer renowned for pleats, dies of liver cancer at 84
Issey Miyake, the influential Japanese fashion designer known for his pleated style creations and Steve Job’s signature black turtleneck, died of liver cancer at 84 years old on Friday.
A private funeral service was held with his friends and family, his office stated. Per Miyake’s wishes, a memorial ceremony will not be held.
Portland man charged with hate crimes for punching 5-year-old and her father because they’re ‘Japanese’
- Dylan J. Kesterson, 34, was charged with bias crimes after allegedly punching a 5-year-old girl and her father because he thought they were Japanese.
- The incident, which was reportedly seen by several witnesses — including the girl’s mother — occurred along Portland, Oregon’s Eastbank Esplanade on Saturday afternoon.
- In a statement, Mayor Ted Wheeler said he is “outraged and disgusted” by the assault and vowed to ask the District Attorney to “pursue maximum penalty.”
- Kesterson, who has since been released, is scheduled for arraignment on Tuesday.
A man has been charged with bias crimes in Portland, Oregon, after allegedly attacking a man and his 5-year-old daughter because he thought they were Japanese.
The victims, who came from California, were riding bikes along the Eastbank Esplanade on Saturday at around 3:45 p.m. when Dylan J. Kesterson, 34, approached them and “made comments about his perception that they were of Japanese descent,” Portland police said.
Poop teaches kids finance in extremely popular textbook on backorder in Japan
- A children’s financial literacy textbook that uses poop-themed illustrations is on a severe backorder in Japan due to its massive popularity.
- The textbook, “Poop Money Drill,” is divided into two books that teach children about the importance of the economy and financial responsibility.
- The country’s Financial Services Agency is distributing the books for free to those who apply, causing an overwhelming amount of orders.
- Due to the excessive demand, orders for the books will be on suspension for about a month and half until the system clears out.
A poop-themed children’s financial literacy textbook is on a severe backorder in Japan due to an overwhelming amount of orders.
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) in Japan offered to distribute free “Poop Money Drill” textbooks beginning in April to those who apply, causing a massive backorder due to its popularity, reported SoraNews24.
New Japanese toy truck that makes sushi and then drops it off will have kids becoming itamae in no time
- Japanese toy manufacturer Takara Tomy Arts announced the Kurukuru Norimaki Kojo, or the “Around and Around Sushi Roll Factory,” a toy factory that uses a truck, a simple circuit and various stations to make sushi in less than a minute. The Kurukuru Norimaki Kojo requires kids to help prepare ingredients before they can play. This includes molding the rice base using a tool, sliding nori (seaweed) into the Seaweed Rolling Gate and putting the toppings in the Topping Drop Station. Priced at 6,578 yen (approximately $49), the Kurukuru Norimaki Kojo is set for release in October.
Japanese toy manufacturer Takara Tomy Arts has introduced a fun way for kids to make sushi using a toy factory truck running on a simple circuit.
The toy factory is called Kurukuru Norimaki Kojo, or “Around and Around Sushi Roll Factory,” and was showcased on Takara Tomy Arts’ YouTube channel on Friday.
Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani hits his first career grand slam
- Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani hit his first professional grand slam in a match against the Tampa Bay Rays (11-3) on Monday night.
- The two-way phenom said he did not know it was his first, thinking he already hit one during his five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.
- The Angels so far are 20-11 on the season and will continue to face the Rays in their three-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Los Angeles Angels’ two-way star Shohei Ohtani hit his first professional grand slam on Monday night.
The Angels beat the Tampa Bay Rays 11-3 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim, with center fielder Mike Trout also hitting a home run in the sixth inning to score the home team an early 6-1 lead.
New York City to host its first-ever Japanese heritage parade
- New York will have its first-ever Japan Day Parade on May 14 to honor residents of Japanese descent and their culture.
- While the metropolitan area has previously seen celebrations such as the Japan Day festival at Central Park, the parade’s organizers said bringing the festivities to the streets will reach more people.
- The parade, which was originally scheduled to coincide with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, will start at 1 p.m. at Central Park West on 81st St. and will end at 68th St.
- There will also be a street fair operating along 69th Street between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West from 1:00 p.m. to around 4:30 p.m.
- Actor and activist George Takei will be the grand marshal of the event, which expects over 1,700 participants, including members of martial arts groups, dance troupes and music ensembles.
- Ambassador Mikio Mori, the Japanese consul-general in New York, said the event’s postponed date “creates big momentum to make it better, to celebrate the recovery from the pandemic, as well as appreciation from the Japanese community to the city of New York."
New York will have its first-ever Japan Day Parade on May 14 to honor residents of Japanese descent and their culture.
The parade will see over 1,700 members of the Japanese and Japanese American communities in the New York metropolitan area marching in solidarity.
Mila Jovovich’s daughter impresses fans with video of her Japanese language skills
- Ever Anderson, the daughter of actor Milla Jovovich and director Paul W.S. Anderson, took to Instagram to share her impressive Japanese skills after a few months of learning the language.
- Anderson visited Japan in 2016 after appearing in “Resident Evil: The Final Chapter” alongside her mother.
- In the video, Anderson says she loves Japanese culture and hopes to show her respect when visiting the country by speaking Japanese.
Editor’s note (4/22): A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Paul W.S. Anderson was the director of “Licorice Pizza.” The story has been updated to correct the mistake.
Fans have praised 14-year-old Ever Anderson, the daughter of actress Milla Jovovich and director Paul W.S. Anderson, for her enthusiasm in learning to speak Japanese and her impressive pronunciation of the language in a recent video.
New Japanese writing café pressures customers to keep writing, won’t allow them to leave unfinished
- Located in the district of Koenji in Tokyo, Manuscript Writing Cafe helps customers create goals so they can meet their deadlines.
- The cafe only takes in people who are focused on “manuscript writing,” which includes copywriting, translation work, paper writing, screenplay writing and manga drawing, among others.
- Customers can choose between “mild,” “normal” or “hard” progress checks to determine how often cafe employees or the cafe’s manager verbally hold them accountable.
- Writers are not allowed to leave the cafe until they have accomplished their goals.
A new writing cafe in Tokyo is using verbal pressure and progress checks to help its customers meet their deadlines before they’re allowed to leave.
ここからは「原稿執筆カフェ」店長にお任せしまーす！ pic.twitter.com/NsxvZQa5Ay
